Until the age of 40, Jean Sincero was scraping a living as a freelance writer, living in a garage and spending her time arriving at dinners with friends ‘too late to eat’ because she couldn’t actually afford to eat anything that didn’t come in a tin. Sincero was broke. And a bit sad. And now she isn’t. This month’s book is all about her story.

Warning: this is not a fluffy self-help book. Author Shojai hates TV, caffeine, commuting and expensive handbags and expects you to do the same by the time you finish this book. And the thing is, you just might!

Toni Jones from Shelf Help talks us through her book of the month: Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits – To Sleep More, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life by Gretchen Rubin.